Improvement in steam and air brakes



w.,M. HENDERsoN.

Steam and Airrake.

Pagmed Feb.'9,1875.`

INVENTOR. .mmmw

@einen WILLIAM M. HENDERSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM AND AIR BRAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,512, dated February 9, 1875; application led December 7, 1874.

lowing is a specication:

This invention relates to that class of railroad-car brakes which are operated by atmospheric pressure on a vacuum created by eX- hausting the air from within the brake-cylinders or collapsible diaphragme connected with ,the brake-shoes; and the object isto construct an ejector for exhausting the air which shall operate Without alarming noise and Waste of steam.

The improvement consists in combiuin g with the ordinary air-injector, which has a steam and air connection, a third branch, which shall supply a stream of water to condense the steam in its passage through the instrument, and discharging into the tender-tank, where the noise of the discharge is smothered, and the heat of the steam used is recovered in the feed-water.

The accompanying drawing shows a sectional view of this improved ejector and valves for operating it, in Which- A is the body-casting of the ejector, secured O11 the tender-tank B. G is the vacuumpipe leading to the brake-applying vessels under the several cars. D is the steam-supply pipe connected to the boiler; E, brake-valve for governing the admission of steam to the ejector. F is a Vacuum-valve to close andhold the vacuum obtained. G is an injection-pipe passing down to near the bottom of the tender-tank, iitted with an injection-valve, H. I is the airnozzle, its end tapered to an edge, and-made to correspond with a taper hole formed in the steam-nozzle K. It is adjusted in position by the screw at upper end, to give an annular jet of steam sufficient to rapidly induce the air out of the pipe G and brake-vessels to which it is attached. The lower end ofthe steamnozzle K is also tapered to an edge, and made to correspond with a taper hole formed in the condensing-nozzle L. It is adjusted in position by the screw at upper end, to give an annular jet of Water sufficient to condense the steam which is used to produce the vacuum. This nozzle is rounded off at its lower end with an ogee curve, and there is fitted to it a spraydelector, M, which intercepts the discharge, and changes its natural direction from blowing directly into the water, throwing it oft radially in the tank. An air-hole out through the top of the tank will allow of the escape of the air withdrawn from the brake-pipes and vessels. The steam and vacuum valves E F 'are operated conjointly by the lever N, their stems being united. The vacuum-valve has an elastic face of indiarubber, to insure tight closing, and lost motion enough is provided to allow each valve to properly seat. The spring f assists in the closing.

The operation of the device is as follows: To apply the brakes the engineer opens the valves E F by the lever N. The steam will be projected with great force through the annular space surrounding the end of the air-nozzle I, exhausting the air out of pipe C, and projecting the combined current through steam-nozzle K into the condensing-nozzle L, drawing with it, in its passage, a circular sheet of water carried up by the injectionpipe G from thewater-tank, of sufficient volume to condense the steam contained in the issuing jet, on the principle ot' the ejectorcondenser. This jet and induced current from the vacuum-pipe G are projected through the throat of the condensing-nozzle L, until they meet the spray-deectorM, which insures inal condensation, and throws the current off in a radial direction into the interior of the tendertank, thus disposing of the steam used in a subdued manner, and storing up its heat in the feedwater, to be restored to the boiler'. To release the brakes air is admitted to the pipe G by a valve (not shown on the drawing) which is located outside the vacuum-valve F, convenient to the hand of the engineer.

As regards the arrangementrof the nozzles, l

their number or shape, and the disposition ot' the air, steam, and water pipes, there is nothing arbitrary, and their relative position may be varied without changing the principles involved. The steam and air pipes may change places, or the steam may enter from the top, injection next, and the air last, in which case the nozzle lK may be dispensed with.

I am aware that there is a class of ejectors in which a stream of water is introduced to condense the exhast steam from steam-cylinders to produce a vacuum therein, which are known as ejector-condensers, the functions of which are not Within the scope of my invention, and are disclaimed. The question of producing a vacuum is no part of my improvement, the object of which is to get rid of the jet of steam after the vacuum has been produced. I am also aware that it has been proposed to condense the jet of steam used in the operating of air-ejectors in a separate vessel by means of a submerged discharge-pipe. This I do not desire to do, and distinctly disclaim; but

Witnesses:

MARMADUKE MOORE, ISAAC GREGG, Jr. 

